DMT 325 and the Atoma 400

Originally Posted by jpcwon

I have a question about the atomas. Is it possible to interchange grits on one plate? I just bought the 1200 to lap my finishing stones. Now say I want to use the 400; am I able to swap back & forth if I bought just the 400 "surface", or do I need to buy the entire 400 grit plate? I don't anticipate doing this as I already have a DMT325, but was just curious...

Thanks in advance!

No, I thought the same thing, but once you pull the old grit, it's done. Double O

Well, my Atoma 1200 was just delivered. I went with the 1200 instead of 400 as I already have a DMT325, so I figured it would be a little redundant to have 2 diamond plates with similar grits. I got the 1200 for lapping my finishing stones, and I will say that it does an EXCELLENT job. No stiction, much lighter than a DMT, and it leaves a nice shiny finish on my stones. Definitely worth the $$ IMO...

I think what I'm going to do is order the 400 replacement pad anyway, then I can do what Jeness said & glue it on the back of the 1200; then I'll have a double-sided plate!

And they last pretty well also - my first 1200 lasted around 5-6 years I think, with pretty much daily cleaning/slurry-raising use and perhaps weekly lapping on 4K and over stones. I think you made a good call getting the 1200 - I have the 400 also and it almost never gets used.

I finally bought an Atoma 1200 today from Leevalley. Ive been buying to many razors and put this on the back burner. What a mistake. Of course, when I got home, I had to lap my Nor 4/8 and my Nani 12k and it worked soo well. This is going to make things so much easier. It also worked very well on my newly acquired J-nat as well, to raise a nice slurry. I think the 400 Atoma might also be purchased soon.

What is the reasoning for an atoma 1200 not working on a bevel setting hone? I'll need a lapping plate at some point and would love to escape with just buying one if at all possible. The comments about getting a replacement 400 and putting it on the other side of the plate is nothing short of brilliant, though

What is the reasoning for an atoma 1200 not working on a bevel setting hone? I'll need a lapping plate at some point and would love to escape with just buying one if at all possible. The comments about getting a replacement 400 and putting it on the other side of the plate is nothing short of brilliant, though

I don't have one yet but I've asked about them from a lot of friends that do. Apparently the diamond construction of the plate lends itself to standing up to the rigors of lapping waterstones but is too much of a good thing for razor bevels. It is a 1200 grit plate and if you lap waterstones with a 1200 DMT you'll have a paperweight pretty quickly. You can set bevels with the DMT 1200 but you cannot lap with it. DMT says anything over 325 is not advisable.

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I don't have one yet but I've asked about them from a lot of friends that do. Apparently the diamond construction of the plate lends itself to standing up to the rigors of lapping waterstones but is too much of a good thing for razor bevels. It is a 1200 grit plate and if you lap waterstones with a 1200 DMT you'll have a paperweight pretty quickly. You can set bevels with the DMT 1200 but you cannot lap with it. DMT says anything over 325 is not advisable.

I guess my main question would be if I only had to get one lapping stone (if possible) whether a DMT or Atoma, which would be the best case?